Why Pink's Response to a Troll Is Rubbing Trans People the Wrong Way

Thank you so much.
I just showed my 12 year old daughter your post.
I explained to her that I’ve never met you, I don’t know you, and I have no idea why you would go out of your way to be hateful.
It was a good lesson in ignorance.
Thank you. I still don’t know you. Congrats.… https://t.co/QTA4QNxA87

— P!nk (@Pink) September 12, 2023

“Thank you so much,” she wrote in a quote tweet of the post. “I just showed my 12-year-old daughter your post. I explained to her that I’ve never met you, I don’t know you, and I have no idea why you would go out of your way to be hateful. It was a good lesson in ignorance. Thank you. I still don’t know you. Congrats. You’re no one.”

MOST IMPORTANTLY -what a wasted opportunity here. There are so many pictures you could’ve chosen that were actually me that were worse than this picture, you nameless fucko. At least be creative next time dum dum. https://t.co/QTA4QNxA87

— P!nk (@Pink) September 12, 2023

“Most importantly -what a wasted opportunity here,” she continued. “There are so many pictures you could’ve chosen that were actually me that were worse than this picture, you nameless f*cko. At least be creative next time dum dum.”

While Pink’s fans know that she’s a strong LGBTQ+ ally, many were rubbed the wrong way by her comments, which seem to imply that being compared to Izzard, at least in looks, is an insult. And the fact that she showed the post to her young daughter as an example of hate directed at her furthers that view.

We also understand that Pink was reacting to the X user trying to use her and Izzard’s appearances as insults. Still, for many, Pink’s response seemed to give a tacit agreement that to be compared to a trans woman would be an insult.

Suzy Eddie Izzard is not only one of the most talented comedians and actors of her generation, but she’s also a beautiful woman. Being compared to her looks-wise shouldn’t be seen as an insult.

Luckily, actress and activist Alexandra Billings took to Instagram to graciously point out the missteps from Pink's recent social media exchange that had a few fans raising their eyebrows.

“I want to do this as gently and yet as succinctly as I know how,” Billings wrote in her open post to Pink. “What you have told your daughter is that being called a trans woman is an insult. Granted this is not who you are. It does not live anywhere near you. I understand that. And I believe because you are unfamiliar with who we are as a community, it feels like a judgment. It feels as though someone has called you masculine. Or a man. Or perhaps even a man and a dress.”

“What you told your daughter was the worst thing about this comment, was the fact that somebody equated you with a trans human,” she wrote later on in the post. “And as kind as you seem, I doubt very seriously that was the message you had in mind.”

Billings suggested that instead, Pink could’ve replied with something along the lines of, “That’s not me, friend. You’ve confused your divas,” showing that she doesn’t feel the comparison was an insult, but a compliment.

Others in the comments of Billings’ post agreed, pointing out that being compared to Izzard is a great honor, and that Pink could’ve chosen to see the comparison as a compliment, instead of an insult, therefore taking power away from her harasser and uplifting trans women.

Others have pointed out how Billings was so kind and gentle in her open message to Pink.

No one here thinks that Pink is a transphobe or bigot, the community is simply asking her to consider how her words might impact trans women who see them.

Pink, we’re big fans, and we love your allyship for the LGBTQ+ community, so we hope that you can use this as an educational moment.